Saturday, April 1, 2017

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: March 27, 1863

This is the day appointed by the President for fasting and
prayers. Fasting in the midst of famine! May God save this people! The day will
be observed throughout the Confederacy.

The news from the West, destruction of more of the enemy's
gun-boats, seems authentic. So far we have sustained no disasters this spring,
the usual season of success of the enemy by water.

Mr. G. W. Randolph was the counsel of the speculators whose
flour was impressed, and yet this man, when Secretary of War, ordered similar
impressments repeatedly. “Oh, man! dressed in a little brief authority,” etc.

Mr. Foote has brought forward a bill to prevent trading with
the enemy. Col. Lay even gets his pipes from the enemy's country. Let Mr. Foote
smoke that!

A gentleman said, to-day, if the Yankees only knew it, they
might derive all the benefits they seek by the impracticable scheme of subjugation,
without the expenditure of human life, by simply redoubling the blockade of our
ports, withdrawing their armies to the borders, and facilitating trade between
the sections. We would not attack them in their own country, and in a month
millions of their products would be pouring into the South, and cotton,
tobacco, etc. would go to the North in vast quantities. I wonder the smart
Yankee never thinks of this! Let both sides give passports freely, and an
unlimited intercourse would be immediately established.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 280